Coloring set



H. METH CGLORING SET Feb. 11, 1969 Filed May 22, 1967 INVENTOR. HARRYMETH J MQ ATTORNEY H. METH COLORING SET Feb. 11, 1969 Sheet Filed May22, 1967 FIG.'6

III 1 INVENTOR.

HARRY METH BY FIG. 7

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,426,888 COLORING SET Harry Meth,Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Rainbow Crafts, Inc., a corporation ofDelaware Filed May 22, 1967, Ser. No. 640,016 US. Cl. 2061.8 Int. Cl.B4411 3/00, 3/04; Bc 11/00 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thepresent invention relates to a coloring set, and more particularly to aspill-proof container or receptacle for storing or holding a liquid suchas paint, a colored dye, or marking ink.

Coloring sets which include a plurality of diflferent colors, are wellknown in the art for coloring or painting purposes. Painting forexample, is often a favorite pastime for children. Accordingly, numerousattempts have been made in recent years to improve the state of the artrelating to paint sets, not only as to the type of paint used, but alsoas to the type of brush or marking implement used for applying thepaint, the type of surface which is to be painted or marked upon, thecontainer for holding or storing the paint, and the like. It has beenfound that when children are the primary user of a product of this type,extra care should be taken to make sure that the paint is non-toxic,that the paint is easy to remove from the skin and clothing, and thatthe paint is stored in a container which is easy and convenient to useand store.

Containers of many types are available for storing liquids such aspaints, dyes, and marking inks. In some instances such liquids areremoved from the container by inserting or dipping a brush or otherinstrument into an open-ing provided in the container. During periods ofnon-use, the container opening must be covered or closed in some mannerto prevent the contents from spilling or leaking out if the container isinverted or tipped, and to prevent evaporation of the contents out ofthe container. Ofttimes, a cover is provided for this purpose; in otherinstances, a marking instrument such as a brush or pen, is stored in theopening, thus effectively plugging or blocking the opening. Containersof this type are not always the most convenient and easy to use however.If a cover is used for example, it must be removed and replaced eachtime some of the contents are removed from the container, to insure thatthe contents are not accidentally spilled, this is especially true whenchildren are using the container. If the brush or instrument is used toplug the opening, the combined unit is awkward and unhandy to carryaround and store; moreover, the container is still uncovered while theinstrument is being used.

Pads, formed of absorbent material, are sometimes placed withincontainers for absorbing the liquid contents so that the problem ofleakage through an opening in the container is minimized. According tothe known prior art, some container devices of this type still plug theopening by inserting and storing a marking instrument of some type inthe opening during periods of non-use. For those systems which do notcover or plug the opening, evaporation of the liquid ingredients poses aserious problem.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide animproved coloring or painting set.

Another object is to provide a paint set wherein liquid paints ofvarious colors are stored in spill-proof containers or receptacles.

A further object is to provide an improved spill-proof container forstoring liquid ingredients.

A still further object is to provide an improved container which can bereadily stored without danger of spilling its contents, and which can bestored for prolonged periods of time with very little, if anyevaporation of the contents.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent froma consideration of the following specification and drawings. Beforeproceeding with a detailed description of the invention however, a briefdescription of it will be presented.

Briefly, the invention concerns a container which defines a reservoirfor storing a liquid such as paint or ink. The top of the container isprovided with an opening therein which forms a passage into thereservoir, through which a marking instrument such as a paint brush, canbe inserted. A compressible and expandable sponge block is positionedwithin the chamber for absorbing a liquid introduced into the container,and a plate member is interposed between the sponge and the top of thecontainer, for blocking the passage into the reservoir.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the followingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paint set which includes a plurality ofreceptacles or compartments for storing dif- -ferent colored paints;

'FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, in partial section, of the paintset shown in FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 FIG. 4is a partial sectional view illustrating how a receptacle or compartmentis filled with a fluid medium;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a marking instrument insertedin a receptacle or compartment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a marking instrument which can be used for removingthe contents from a receptacle or compartment;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 7.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a coloring set designated generally by numeral 10.The set includes an outer rectangular box or tray 12, and acompartmented insert or container 14 which fits within the tray 12. Thetray 12 includes front and back walls 16 and 18, end walls 20 and 22,and a bottom surface 24. The container 14 likewise includes front andback walls 26 and 28, end walls 30 and 32, and a bottom surface 34. Boththe tray 12 and the container 14 should preferably be formed of animpermeable material such as plastic.

The container 14 is divided into a plurality of equal size receptaclesor compartments 36 which form reservoirs which are aligned along theback side of the tray 12. The receptacles 36 are formed by means of awall member 38 which extends the length of the container, and aplurality of transverse, spaced apart wall members 40, which connect thewall members 28 and 38 together. An elongated chamber 42, which extendsthe entire length of the tray, is formed between the walls 26 and 38,and an elongate compartment 44 is formed between the walls 16 and 26.Spacers 46 attached to the wall 26, separate the walls 16 and 26 fromeach other.

A top member or cover 50 forms the top surface of the compartments 36and chamber 42, and it fits relataken along line 8-8 tively snuglybetween the walls 18, 20 and 22, so that it v does not readily becomedislodged. If preferred, of course, the cover 50 could be permanentlyattached to the container 14 in any suitable manner. A plurality ofopenings 52 are provided in the cover 50 for forming passages into eachcompartment 36, and an opening 54 forms a passage into the chamber 42.As noted, each opening 52 is provided with a boss 56 which surrounds theopening.

An absorbent, resilient pad or block 60, preferably formed of acompressible and expandable sponge material, is positioned within eachof the compartments 36. The resilient sponge block 60 when expanded, isformed so that it has substantially the same size and shape as thecompartment 36. It has been found that a compressed cellulose spongematerial works with excellent results. As well known in the art, suchsponge material can be produced in the form of a compressed sheet, whichis then cut into pieces of desired shape and size. When the sponge ismoistened, it expands in directions opposite to the direction in whichit was compressed, until it reaches its normal expanded condition. Whenpressure is exerted against a surface of the block, the sponge is causedto compress; when the pressure is released, the sponge resumes itsexpanded condition. While a cellulose sponge material is preferredbecause it can readily be compressed and expanded, other types ofcompressible and expandable material might be used as well.

A small plate 62 is also positioned within each compartment 36, so thatit lies on the top surface 64 of the sponge 60. As depicted in thedrawings, the plate 62 is thus interposed between the sponge 60 and thecover 50. As shown in FIG. 3, when the sponge 60 is in an expandedcondition, the plate is forced against the cover 50, and morespecifically the boss 56, so that it effectively blocks the passage intothe compartment. The plate 62 should be large enough so that it coversthe opening 52 even though it might be closer to one side of thecompartment than the other side; it should not however, be so large thatit prevents the liquid from being forced up between the edges of theplate and the inside wall of the compartment when the sponge iscompressed. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the plate has the samecross-sectional shape as the receptacle, but it is slightly smaller.

Different types of paints, inks, or dye solutions can be stored in thecontainer, by saturating the sponge 60. If for example, the coloring setis to be used by children, it might be preferred to saturate the spongewith a water soluble dye solution, which can be readily removed from theusers skin and clothing. Numerous dyes of this type are commerciallyavailable which can be used with satisfactory results. As an example,dye powders are commercially available in many different hues. A dyesolution can be made by mixing a quantity of the powder with aprescribed amount of water; the compartment is then filled with thissolution so that the sponge becomes saturated. In some instances, itmight be preferred to fill the compartments with a concentratedsolution, and dilute the solution at the time it is to be used bymoistening the coloring instrument with water either prior to or afterthe instrument is dipped into the compartment.

A marking instrument or implement 70 is provided for withdrawing the dyesoltuion out of the compartments, and applying it onto a coloringsurface. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the instrument 70 is convenientlystored in the compartment 44, and it rests on the spacers 46. The wedge76 aids in maintaining the instrument in place within the compartment.Different types of marking instruments can effectively be used. In FIG.for example, a brush 72 is illustrated having bristles 74 secured to thehandle by a shank 76. As shown, the bristles are relatively short; thisfeature prevents the tips of the bristles from becoming caught betweenthe plate 62 and the boss 56.

FIG. 6 shows another marking instrument which includes a hollowcylindrical barrel 8, out of which an 4 wick projects. The nib 78 mightbe if preferred, a felt absorbent nib or formed of a sponge material ormaterial.

The painting set is assembled by placing a compressed sponge in each ofthe compartments 36, and thereafter placing the plate 62 on its topsurface. In this regard, note FIG. 4, which shows the sponge and theplate at the bottom of the compartment 36. The cover 50 is then placedover the compartments and the compartments are ready for filling. Thesolution is introduced into the compartment by means of a nozzle 82which is inserted within the opening 52 in the cover 50. As the dyesolution flows into the receptacle, the sponge pad 60 expands andbecomes saturated with the fluid medium. After the compartment has beenfilled, the sponge block assumes an expanded condition so that the plate62 is forced against the boss 56, thus effectively preventing any of thedye solution from leaking out through the opening 52, or the contentsfrom evaporating out through the passage. Each compartment is filled inthis manner with a different color so that a complete coloring set isavailable for painting purposes. A marking instrument is positionedwithin the compartment 44, and the coloring set is now ready for use.

Prior to beginning the painting operation, the chamber 42 is at leastpartially filled with water so that the brush can be rinsed or cleanedafter it has been used to apply a specific color. A selected paint isextracted from a specific compartment by inserting the brush within theopening 52 and applying a slight pressure on the upper surface of theplate 62. As shown in FIG. 5, pressure exerted on the top surface of thesponge block causes the dye solution to ooze onto the top surface of theplate 62 so that it can be absorbed by the coloring instrument. When thecoloring instrument is removed from the opening 52, the resiliency ofthe sponge causes it to expand so that the plate 62 is again forcedagainst the opening 52, in other words, the sponge acts somewhat like aspring in that it keeps the compartment sealed shut by forcing the plate62 against the opening. When the painting operation is completed, thewater can be removed from the compartment 42, e.g., through the opening54 (or an opening in the bottom surface 34 if preferred) and the devicestored until future use.

Under normal conditions, the sponge will remain moist for an extendedperiod of time, depending of course upon the tightness of the sealbetween the plate and the boss, the amount of times the paint is used,and the like. If, after a prolonged period of time the sponge dries outand becomes hard, it can be reactivated by remoistening it with aprescribed amount of water. If there is any dye left in the sponge, anew supply of paint will be available.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another type of storage device for holding apaint or dye solution, which is especially useful when only a singlecolor or a minimum of colors are to be used. In this arrangement, thestorage device comprises a cylindrical container 84 which defines areservoir. The container 84 is provided with a cylindrical wall 86 and abottom surface 88. An annular projection 90 is integrally connected tothe bottom surface 90 so that it forms a shoulder 92 with the bottomsurface. A cover or top portion 94, having an opening 96 therein, isattached to the top of the container in any suitable manner, so that areservoir or compartment is formed. A circular boss 98 surrounds theopening 96. A cylindrical sponge block 100, having substantially thesame cross-sectional shape and size as the container 84 is placed withinthe reservoir, and a plate or disk 102, which is at least slightlysmaller than the cross-sectional size of the container, is interposedbetween the cover 94 and the top surface of the sponge block 100. Theplate 102 effectively blocks the opening or passage 94 formed in thecover 92 when it is forced against the boss 98. As shown, the cover 94is recessed within the cylindrical wall by a small amount.

If more than one color is desired, additional containers are provided.Two or more containers can be conveniently stored by stacking them inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 7. As shown, the projection 90 of a firstcontainer fits within the recess formed in the top portion of a secondcontainer, in such a manner that the end of the wall 86 of the secondcontainer abuts against the shoulder 92 of the first container. They canbe stacked in this manner, thus requiring a minimum amount of storagespace.

Each container is assembled and is filled in substantially the samemanner as that described above in connection with FIG. 4. Preferably, acompressed sponge is used which expands to substantially fill thereservoir when the sponge is moistened with a liquid. The liquid isremoved by exerting a pressure on the plate 102, thereby causing thesponge to compress and the liquid to be squeezed out of it.

The coloring sets described herein can be used for containing andstoring a variety of liquids. It is especially useful and practical forcontaining a coloring fluid such as paint, dye, or ink, which is to beused by children. The construction of the storage container is such thatthe contents will not spill out, and the container can be convenientlystored for prolonged periods of time with only a minimum amount ofevaporation, if any, of the liquid contents out of the receptacle.

In the above description and attached drawings, a dis closure of theprinciples of this invention is presented together with some of theembodiments by which the invention may be carried out.

Now, therefore, I claim:

1. A storage device comprising a container defining a reservoir, saidcontainer including a top surface having an opening therein which formsa passage into said reservoir, an absorbent block formed of acompressible and expandable material positioned within the container,said block being saturated with a fluid medium, and means positionedwithin the container for blocking the passage when the absorbent blockis in an expanded condition, said means including a plate memberpositioned on the resilient block so that it is interposed between saidblock and the top of the container.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein an annular boss surrounds thepassage within the reservoir, said boss being integrally connected tothe top surface, said boss and said plate member cooperating to preventthe fluid medium from leaking from the reservoir when the sponge is inan expanded condition.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fluid medium is a watersoluble colored dye solution.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said absorbent block is formed ofa compressed sponge material which is expandable when moistened with afluid medium, said sponge block when moistened with said fluid mediumexpanding so as to force the plate member against the top surfacethereby blocking said passage, said passage being readily openable byexerting a force against said plate thereby causing said sponge block tobe compressed.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional size and shapeof said plate member is larger than the passage so that said passage iseffectively blocked and sealed by said plate when said plate is forcedagainst the opening.

6. A paint set combination comprising a container formed of a pluralityof compartments for storing a plurality of different colored dyesolutions, each compartment including a top portion having an openingtherein which forms a passage into the compartment, an absorbent blockformed of a resilient material positioned within each compartment, eachblock being saturated with a colored dye solution, a plate memberpositioned within each compartment interposed between the absorbentblock and the passage, each plate member blocking its respective passagewhen the absorbent block is in an expanded condition, and brush meansfor withdrawing the dye solution from a compartment, one end of saidbrush means being insertable within the passages so that a force isexerted against the absorbent block and the dye solution is caused toflow onto the plate member.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the container includes acompartment for storing a cleaning fluid.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the brush means includes bristleshaving a predetermined length and shape.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein the brush means includes a tipformed of an absorbent material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,891 1/1906 Baldwin 6O1,950,203 3/1934 Wilson 2061.8 2,258,030 10/1941 Oxley 12057 2,565,9128/1951 Davis.

2,659,935 11/1953 Hammon.

2,674,757 4/1954 Keyes 12057 2,932,906 4/1960 Chamberlin 2061.7 WILLIAMT. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

